Woods catches leader at fog-delayed tourney

LA JOLLA —— Out of the fog and into contention is Tiger Woods.
Woods, the world's No. 2 player, took a bite out of the leaderboard
on Saturday and is tied for first with Del Mar's Tom Lehman in the
weather-weary Buick Invitational at Torrey Pines Golf Course.

Woods birdied one hole in the morning to finish his delayed
second round, then returned in the afternoon to birdie two more and
then shoot par on his final three holes before darkness fell.

"It's been a long day and I can't wait to go and grab some
dinner and repeat the process (today)," Woods said.

Woods ended the comment with a chuckle, but the Buick's schedule
is no laughing matter.

Saturday's competition was to start at 7:30 a.m., but fog pushed
it back to 10 a.m. The second round was completed at 11:26 a.m.,
with the third round going off at noon. But at 12:45 p.m. —— two
minutes earlier than Friday —— the fog forced play to halt until
2:46 p.m.

Players are set to start at 7:30 this morning, in hopes of
completing the third round and squeezing in the final one.
Considering the past two days and a forecast for morning fog, that
might be a stretch.

Lehman and Woods have some company shooting for the $864,000
first-place check.

Luke Donald, a playoff participant here last year, is at
11-under along with Peter Lonard.

Three players are at 10-under: Ernie Els, Kevin Sutherland and
Dudley Hart.

On the surface, it makes for another exiting final day on this
seaside course.

But first the weather has to cooperate, which it has done
exactly one day since the opening tee shot.

Woods' health, at least, is clearing up. He's been complaining
this week about a bout with the flu that cost him 7 pounds and a
portion of his stamina.

"Just trying to sleep as much as I can," Woods said. "I feel
like an old fogy."

But Woods is somewhat fresh after catching Lehman atop the
leaderboard.

"Without a doubt," said Woods, a two-time winner here, who
started his third round on the South Course's 10th tee. "Three
shots back and all of a sudden, tied. So it was huge to sneak (a
birdie putt) in there on 11. That was kind of —— that thing was
zipping. It had to crash at the hole."

Woods' play has temporarily slowed Lehman's march to victory.
After owning first place by himself on Thursday and Friday, he
wakes up today sharing that honor with Woods.

Lehman completed four holes on Saturday, with a showing of three
pars and a bogey on the par-4 No. 12.

None of the 81 players making the cut were able to complete the
third round —— they had anywhere from five to 14 holes remaining.
Before sunset, Vijay Singh and Charles Howell III had the best
rounds going.

Singh, the world's top player, was 4-under through 12 holes and
stands at 8-under. Howell was 4-under through 9 holes, and is
9-under for the tournament.

But all eyes will focus on Woods —— if the gallery can see ——
when play resumes this morning.

Woods just shrugs about the conditions, knowing he's not the
only one being hampered.

"It's just part of the game," he said. "You have to be patient
and stay calm and understand that everyone has to deal with
it."

Many patrons are saying, "What's the deal with La Jolla's famous
weather."